Ophthalmic Products
Ophthalmic Products
Dr Sanjesh G rathi
Associate professor
SIPS
• Definition:
• Ophthalmic preparations (eye preparations) are sterile,
liquid, semi-solid, or solid preparations that may
contain one or more active pharmaceutical ingredient
intended for application to the conjunctiva, the
conjunctival sac or the eyelids.
• They are specialized dosage forms designed to be
instilled onto the external surface of the eye (topical),
administered inside (intraocular) or adjacent
(periocular) to the eye or used in conjunction with an
ophthalmic device.
• The most commonly employed ophthalmic dosage
forms are solutions, suspensions, and ointments.
• The newest dosage forms for ophthalmic drug delivery
are: gels, gel-forming solutions, ocular inserts ,
intravitreal injections and implants.
ADVANTAGE:
• They are easily administered by the nurse
• They are easily administered by the patient
himself.
• They have the quick absorption and effect.
• less visual and systemic side effects.
• increased shelf life.
• better patient compliance.
DISADVANTAGES:
• The very short time the solution stays at the
eye surface.
• 1)Drug
• 2)Preservative
• 3)Sterilization
• 4)Isotonicity
• 5)Buffer
• 6)Viscosity
• 7)Container
• 8)Label
• 1) Drugs- These contains drugs of various
categories including antiseptic, anti-
inflammatory agent, mydriatic or miotic
properties
• 2) Preservative- Eye drop should be sterile
and should contain preservatives to avoid
microbial contamination when container is
open. The preservative for ophthalmic use
includes benzalkonium chloride, chlorbutanol,
phenylmercuric acetate, phenylmercuric
nitrate etc.,
• 3)Sterilization- Eye drops are sterilized by
autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes or by
bacteria filter to avoid thermal degradation for
example- preservative chlorbutanol hydrolyzes
at high temperature
• 4)Isotonicity- All the solutes including drug
contribute to the osmotic pressure of the eye
drip, therefore isotonicity of the formula
should be calculated and it is adjusted with
sodium chloride, for example sodium chloride
0.9% and boric acid 1.9& are iso-osmotic
• 5)Buffer- the buffer should be added to
maintain balance between comfort, solubility,
stability and activity of drug. For example the
hydrolysed chlorbutanol forms hydrochloride
acid making the drop acidic. Whereas certain
drug like pilocarpine hydrochloride are acidic
• 6)Viscosity- the size of the drop and its
residence in eye depends on viscosity of eye
drops. Methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl
methycellulose and polyvenyl alcohol are
common viscosity inhancer
• 7) Container- the commonly used container
for ophthalmic solutions or suspension is
multi-dose container(5ml, 10ml). Glass
container is supplied with sterile plastic
dropper. Plastic bottles are with built up
nozzle.
• 8)Label- Not for injection. For external use
only. Shake well before use (if it is suspension)
DOSAGE FORMS APPLIED TO THE EYE
Topical Administration
Solutions
Suspension
Emulsion
Ointment
Gel
Perfusion
Spray
Inserts
Intraocular drug delivery
Intraocular injection
Implant
Iontophoresis
Liposome
Niosome
Drug delivery routes
• Solutions
• This system allows the use of a lower drug concentration than used in
conventional eye-drops, yet will produce the same potency. Side effects are
reduced and constant therapeutic action is maintained
Sprays
• Spray systems produce similar results to eye-drops in terms of
duration of drug action and side effects. Sprays have several
advantages over eye-drops:
• FOR EXAMPLE
• Lacrisert is a sterile ophthalmic insert use in the treatment
of dry Eye syndrome and is usually recommended for
patients unable to obtain symptomatic relief with artifical
tear solutions.
Intraocular Injections
• The ophthalmologist use available parental dosage
forms to deliver Anti-infective, corticosteroids, and
anesthetic products to achieve higher therapeutic
concentrations intraoculary than can ordinarily Be
achieved by topical or systemic administration.